Arthashastra 3.8.2: Dharmasthiya, Adhyaya 8, Sutra 2

Devanagari script

गृहं क्षेत्रमारामः सेतुबन्धस्तटाकमाधारो वा वास्तुः ॥

Recitation with translationArthashastra 3.8.2

Transliteration

gṛhaṃ kṣetram ārāmaḥ setubandhas taṭākam ādhāro vā vāstuḥ

Translation

‘వాస్తు’ (ఆస్తి/స్థలం)లో ఇల్లు, పొలం, తోట/ఉద్యానం, సెతుబంధం (అడ్డంకి/తటబంధం), చెరువు/కుంట, లేదా జలాధారం/జలస్రోతం ఉంటాయి।

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Word by Word

• गृहम्: a house; dwelling
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (सूत्रे समाहार-निर्देशः)

• क्षेत्रम्: a field; arable land
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• आरामः: a garden; pleasure-grove
• Type: Noun
• Root: आराम
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• सेतुबन्धः: a dam/embankment; construction of a bund
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेतु-बन्ध
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; समासः: सेतोः बन्धः

• तटाकम्: a tank; reservoir
• Type: Noun
• Root: तटाक
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन

• आधारः: a support; base; foundation
• Type: Noun
• Root: आधार
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक-निपातः

• वास्तुः: real property; a site/immovable property
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास्तु
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (वास्तु-शब्दः), प्रथमा एकवचन; सूत्रे परिभाषा/समाहार-निर्देशः

Entities Mentioned

• gṛha
• kṣetra
• ārāma
• setubandha
• taṭāka
• ādhāra

More Details

FAQs

What is significant about including tanks and embankments under ‘vāstu’?

It treats water infrastructure as legally protectable property, enabling the state to adjudicate disputes over irrigation assets central to revenue and food security.